Ratchet spiral screw driver



1953 J. H. MANSFIELD ET AL 2,664,126

RATCHET SPIRAL SCREW DRIVER 2 ShetS-She9t 1 Filed May 15, 1950 1953 J. H. MANSFIELD ET AL 2,664,125

RATCHET SPIRAL SCREW DRIVER Filed May 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 2,664,126 v ItATCHET SPIRAL scm w D uvER Judson H. 'Mansfield and Edwin .C. Swanson, Rockford, Ill., assignors to enemas Bros. & 00.,

Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 15, 1950. SeriaINo. 161,94

. j 5 Claims. (011145-54) This invention relates to ratchet toolsand more particularly to .ratchet screw drivers and press drills. H a 5 ,,object ofthe invention is the .provision in a spiral ratchet screw driver of the above character -having telescoping enclosure members of novel-locking means operabl through manipulation of said members for locking the spindle in yaretracted position. p

Another object ofithe invention is the provision ,ofaspiral ratchet screw driver having a light -weight construction yet which is relatively strong andcan-withstand hardservice. a Anotherobject; of the invention is the provision ofa spiral. ratchetscrew driver ofthe abovecharacter in {which plating of components of the screw-driveris inot necessary I Another objectv of. the -invention is the provisionin aspir-al ratchet screw driver of -a ratchet wheel; construction that is relatively strong, rugged and is, so shaped and designed'that the amount of play ;is-- greatly reduced as compared with conventional constructions. 5

Another object of the invention is to provide aspiral ratchet screw driver of the above character having telescoping enclosure members wherein the members are so shaped that a relatively large indentation caused by dropping the screw driver or accidental contact with other tools will not interfere with the normal operation of the ratchet mechanism. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed descr ption taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis an elevational view of a spiral ratchet screw driver embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the screw driver shown in Figure 1;

,. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view with et shifter in position to lock one of the ratchet wheels against rotation and permit rotation of theother, and.

Fig.10 is a section view taken substantially along the line ill-l0 of Fig. 9.

In general the screw driver, comprises a tubular member 2| mounted on the rear end of the drive spindle I3 is snugly received in the passageway l2 and serves'to guide the spindle It in the passageway as the spindle moves into and out of the body A ratchet cage 22 iszmounted-on the body I Ito extendforwardly therefrom and in effect form a continuation thereoi'.' To insure a tight connection between the ratchet cag 22 and the body It the cage 22 is threadedonto the end of the body H and a key 23 extends through a slot formed inrthe-ratcheteage 22 to; be received ina recess formedin the body I l,- in registry with the slot in-the cage;22,=so that the cage 22 and body are positively held against relative, rota?- tional movement.- i

Ratchet wheels-26' and 21 are mounted on the spindle l3'in the cage 22 to be accessiblethrough an elongated opening 24 on the cage. The ratchetwheel '26 i'sformed from bronze alloy material and, as shown in Figs. 2, iand "7. comprises a substantially smooth sleeverlike 'hub portion 29 and an annular radial flange portion 31 at one end ,of: the hub .portion having twelve radially extending annularly spaced teeth I 36 formed on its peripherymThe outer. edges of'the, teeth are relatively wide. asseen in' Fig. 4 and one face 30 of each tooth is sharply inclined from the outer edge to the' base oi the adjacent tooth and is shaped todeflne a'shoulder engageable with the sid e-.of;:the"-pawl- 34*so thatwhen "the pawl en", gagesthe shoulder the ratchetwheel 26 is prevented'from rotating. =The opposite fac 32* of each tooth inclines gradually from the outer edge ef the tooth to the of the adiacent tooth to effect maximumtooth strength. This configuration of the teethpermits a maximum number of teeth about the flangefil consistent with maximum-tooth strength and a minimum of play between the pawl and the teeth. Helical projections 39 .formedonthe ratchet wheel 26- as shown in Fig. 4 engage helical-grooves 4| formed on and extending lengthwiseofthe drive spindle I 3 in a cenrsni nalmannen ,As b st een n F gs. 2 and '7 two grooves 4| are formed on the spindle, one

of which progresses in a clockwise direction about the spindle and the other of which progresses in a counterclockwise direction about the spindle. The ratchet wheel 21 is of identical construction to that of the ratchet Wheel 26 and includes a hub portion 42 and a flange portion 43 having teeth 46 (see Fig. 9) shaped to be engageable with a tongue 41 of a pawl 48 in the manner described hereinbefore. As best seen in Fig. 2 the ratchet wheels are disposed so that the flange portions 3| and 43 are disposed on opposite sides of a rib 49 formed intermediate the ends of the ratchet cage. A thrust bearing supported in the ratchet cage 22 engages the axial face of the hub portion 42 of the ratchet wheel 21. The thrust bearing 5| also is positioned to be engaged by the guide member 2| to limit outward movement or the spindle l3 from the body and define the forward-most position of the drive spindle.

Provision is made for mounting the pawls 34 and 48 so that the latter may be selectively or simultaneously brought into engagement with the teeth of the associated ratchet wheels. To this end the pawl 48 as best seen in Figs. 8, 9 and is formed with a body portion 52 shaped to be received in the left end of the elongated opening 24 as seen in Fig. 9 and is formed with a pair of laterally extending arms 53 shaped to be received in transversely extending slots 54 in the sidewalls of the ratchet cage 22 and in communication with the opening 24. The bottoms 56 of the slots 54 are inclined as best seen in Fig. '7. With this construction the arms and slots in effect define a pivotal connection or axis about which the pawl 48 may be pivoted so that the tongue 41 is movable between a position in which the tongue is normally received in the space between teeth 46 on the ratchet wheel 21 and a position in which the pawl is inclined relative to the axis of the ratchet wheel so that the tongue is free of the teeth and the ratchet wheel is free to rotate.

The pawl 34 is of similar construction and includes a body portion 55 shaped to be received in the right hand end of the slot 24 as seen in Fig. -9 and laterally extending arms 51 shaped to be received in transversely extending slots 58 to define pivotal connections as described for the pawl 48. The bottoms 59 of the slots 58 are inclined so that the pawl 34 may be moved from its normal position locking the ratchet wheel 26 against movement to an inclined position in which the wheel 26 is free to rotate.

The position of the pa ls 34 and 48 is controlled by a ratchet shift member 6| having an arcuate spring member 62 attached to one end so that the ends of the member 62 normally engage the body portions, respectively, of the pawls. The opposite end of the ratchet shift member 6| is accessible through an opening 63 in a tubular housing 64, enclosing the body H, the pawls 34 and 48 and the ratchet wheel assembly, for moving the pawls between their respective control positions. To facilitate movement of the shift member a small button 66 is attached to the shift member 6| to provide an abutment extending outwardly from the housing 64 to which a force may be applied for moving the member 62 between its three positions of operation. In its rearward position, shown in Fig. 10, the spring member 62 moves to cause the pawl 48 to tilt as shown and to positively lock the tongue 33 of the pawl 34 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 26. Under these conditions the ratchet Wheel 21 is free to rotate so as to cause the drive spindie |3 to rotate in one direction of rotation upon application of an axial pressure to the handle l4. In its central position shown in Figs. 7 and 9 the spring 62 engages both pawls 34 and 48 to lock th tongue 33 and the tongue 41 in engagement with the ratchet wheels 26 and 21 respectively to prevent rotation of the ratchet wheels. Under these conditions the spindle 3 is held against rotation and the screw driver can be used as a conventional screw driver. In its forward position, not shown, the spring member 62 looks the tongue 41 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 21 and tilts the pawl 34 so that the tongue 33 is free of the ratchet wheel 26. Under these conditions th ratchet wheel 21 is held against rotation and the ratchet wheel 26 is free to rotate. The direction of rotation of the ratchet wheel 26 is opposite to that of the ratchet wheel 21 so that when the ratchet wheel 26 rotates the spindle |3 rotates in a direction opposite to that when the ratchet wheel 21 is free to rotate.

A chuck assembly is mounted on the outer end of the drive spindle I3 for supporting a screw driver bit, drill bit, or similar tool 65. In general, the chuck assembly includes a chuck body 61 positively secured on the end of the spindle shaft |3 as by an annular shoulder 68 received in a groove 69 formed on the outer end of the drive spindle l3. A chuck casing 1| is mounted on the chuck body 61 and is retained in position by a chuck retaining clip 12 acting between the chuck body and the casing 1| to prevent outward axial movement of the casing 1| relativ to the body. A coil spring 13 mounted on the chuck body 61 acts between a bit retainer washer 14 and an annular shoulder 16 formed on the chuck body 61 to urge the chuck casing 1| to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 7 against the clip 12. A bit retainer 18 is disposed in an inclined passageway 19 formed in the body 61 and shaped to interfit with a notch formed in a shank of the screw driver bit in a conventional manner to retain the bit in the chuck assembly.

As best seen in Figs. 2 and. 7 the screw driver is provided with a tubular member 86 interconnected with the chuck assembly and arranged to telescope over the tubular member 64 so as to provide an enclosure for the spindle |3 as it moves into and out of the body. In tools of this type the telescoping members are sometimes damaged so badly when the screw driver is accidentally dropped that indentations formed in the sidewalls of the tubular member interfere with the operation of the tool. In this embodiment of the invention the telescoping tubular housing 86 is so constructed that it will stand considerable abuse and deformation without impairing the operation of the tool. For this purpose the inner end 81 of the tubular housing 86 is formed to define an opening of substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the tubular housing 64 and in effect forms a guide for guiding the tubular housing 86 with respect to the tubular member 64 as the latter telescopes relative to the tubular housing 64 during the spindle movement in a screw driving operation. At its outer end the tubular housing 86 is interconnected with the chuck assembly through a lock sleeve 88 which in effect forms a continuation of the tubular housing 86. The intermediate portion of the tubular housing 86 is formed with a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the housing 64 so that the sidewalls of the tubular housing 86 are normally spaced from the sidewalls of the tubular housing 64. With this construction the tubular housing 8.6 .ispositively guided as it telescopes and .the Outer tubular housing can withstand considerable abuse and deformation befor interference be-. tween the parts occurs. Locking means is provided for locking the spindle in its retracted position such asshown in Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 7. In this embodiment of the invention the locking means compri es a lockibo'dy 9.I fixed to theouter end of the ratchet cage 22. For thispurpose .a portion of the lock body 'is press fitted into an axially' facing recess formed on the ratchet cage 22. A ball 92 received in a radially extending recess 93in the ratchet cage and the lock body 9! and held inposition by the tubular housing .84 also serves to prevent relativ rotation between'the'cage ZZand'body 9|. A radially extending passageway 95 (see Figs. 5and 6) for receiving a locking ball 94 is formed in the lock body BI and is located so that when the spindle I3 is, in the position shown in Fig' 7 the ball 94 may be received in an annular groove ilfiformed on the spindle I 3. Mounted on the lock body'9l is a lock collar.9'l disposed between an upturned outer flange on the lock body 9| and the end of the ratchet, cage 22. A look collar spring 98 disposed between the lock collar 91 and the ratchet cage 22 serves to aid in holding the lock collar 91 in a desired adjusted position. When the lock collar 91 is in its locking position shown in Fig. 5 the inner circular surface 99 of. the lock collar 9'! overlies the passageway 95 and urges the ball 94 into the annular groove 96 on the drive spindle I3. When the lock collar 97 is in its release position as shown in Fig.6 an arcuate recess IIll formed onthe lock collar receives the ball 94 so thatthe spindle 1311s free to..'move into and out of the body II. A ball I02 disposed in aradially extending recess I03, adjacent the passageway 95 on the periphery of the lock collar body, engages opposite ends of the dwell as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to limit movementof the lock collar between its spindle locking and release positions.

The lock collar 91 may be rotated from the exterior of the screw driver through a clutch mechanismjby rotation 'of the'tubular housing 86. Thus, as best seen in Fig.7 the forward end of the lock collar 9'! is p-rovided with a conical'friction surface I06 shaped to interfit witha conical friction surface IB'I formed on the lock sleeve 88. The lock sleeve 88 is normally urged to a position in,,w.hichjthe frictionsurfa'ceIIlfl is disengaged from the. lock collar by as rmggms actingbetween a lock sleeve'c'ollarIil9, fslidably mounted in the chuck casing "H and supportingtheforward end. of the lock sleeve 88, and a shoulder II I v.formedon the chuckf'body.- By app-lyingfa compressive forc between the handle I4 and the lock sleeve 88 thespring I08 mayb compressed so that the friction surface I on the lock-sleeve 8Ln agesthe friction surface I06 on the lock collar 91 whereupon rotation of the tubular housing 86 will rotate the lock collar 91 between the release and locking positions as shown in Figs. and 6. Upon release of pressure between the handle I4 and the lock sleeve 88, the spring I08 acts to return the parts to the position shown in Figure 1.

The tubular housing 64 and the tubular housing 86- are preferably formed from stainless steel. This insures a relatively strong structure and one that is rust resistant. Another advantage is that no plating of the parts, which is relatively costly, is required to protect metallic surfaces as has been the case heretofore. One disadvantage of plating is that it wears off the parts during 6. the use 'of the tool and consequently the parts are no longer protected against deterioration. Also the plating frequently scales off and lodges in the ratchet wheel assembly and interferes with the functioning of these parts. Another advan-. tage of using stainless steel enclosure members is that the body II and the ratchet cage 22 maybe formed of light weight material such as aluminum, since the steel enclosure members pro-. vide a strong rugged enclosure for these parts. As a consequence this tool has the advantage of being a comparatively strong rugged tool as well as a light weight tool. This construction also has a simple, yet positive locking means for maintaining the chuck in its retracted position. The ratchet wheel construction insures maximum strength of the teeth, yet minimizes play between the parts. This construction is designed for long service life and can withstand considerable abuse without impairing the functioning of the'tool.

We claim:

1. In a spiral screw driver, the combination of a body having an axially extending passageway,v

a chuck, a spindle received in said passageway and shaped to support said chuck, means for mounting said spindle to have said chuck movable between a retracted position in which the chuck is adjacent the body and a position in which the chuck is spaced axially of the body,

telescoping tubular members one of which is fixed to said body and the other of which is secured.

to said chuck to be movable in unison therewith, locking means for said spindle having a rotatable actuating member movable between release and locking positions, said locking means when said actuating member is in the release position permitting free axial movement of the spindle and when said actuating member is in the locking position preventing axial movement of said spindle to hold said chuck in its retracted position and clutch means acting between one of said tubular members and the rotatable actuating member operable upon a preselected endwise pressure applied between the tubular members and relative rotational movement therebetween to effect movement of the actuating member between its locking and release positions.

.2. In a spiral screw driver, the combination of a body having an axially extending passageway, a chuck, a spindle received in said passageway and shaped to support said chuck, means for mounting said spindle to have said chuck movable between a retracted position in which the chuck is adjacent the body and a position in which the chuck is spaced axially of the body, telescoping tubular members one'of which is fixed to said body and the other of which is interconnected withsaid chuck to be movable in unison therewith, locking means for said .spindlehaving, a rotatable actuating member movable. between release and locking positions, said locking means when said actuating member is in the release position permitting free axial movement of the spindle and when said actuating member is in the locking position preventing axial movement of said spindle to hold said chuck in its retracted position, said rotatable actuating member having a friction surface, a rotatable locking sleeve forming the connection between said other tubular member and the chuck and having a friction surface shaped to engage the friction surface on said actuating member to rotate the latter between said release and locking positions, means for mounting said locking sleeve for movement between positions in which said friction surfaces are in spaced relation and a position in which they are engaged in response to axial Pressure applied to said locking sleeve and spring means acting between said chuck and locking sleeve normally urging said locking sleeve away from said actuating member.

3. In a spiral screw driver, the combination of a body having an axially extending passageway, a chuck, a spindle received in said passageway and shaped to support said chuck, mean for mounting said spindle to have said chuck movable between a retracted position in which the chuck is adjacent the body and an extended position in which the chuck is spaced axially of the body, telescoping tubular members one of which is fixed to said body and the other of which is secured to said chuck to be movable in unison therewith, spindle locking means having a rotatable actuating member movable between release and locking positions, said locking means when said actuating member is in the release position permitting axial movement of the spindle between its retracted and extended positions and when said actuating member is in the locking position holding said spindle in its retracted position, clutch means acting between one of said tubular members and the rotatable actuating member operable upon a preselected endwise pressure between the tubular members and relative rotational movement therebetween to effect moveent of the actuating member between its release and locking positions, and means engageable with said rotatable member to limit rotational movement thereof between opposed positions to define said release and lockin positions.

4. In a spiral screw driver, the combination of a body having an axially extending passageway, a chuck, a spindle received in said passageway and supporting said chuck, means for mounting said spindle to have said chuck movable between a retracted position in which the chuck is adja cent the body and a position in which the chuck is spaced axially of the body, telescoping tubular members one of which is fixed to said body and the other of which is interconnected with said chuck to be movable in unison therewith, locking means for said spindle having a rotatable actuating member movable between release and locking positions, said locking means when said actuating member is in the release position permitting free axial movement of the spindle and when said actuating member is in the locking position preventing axial movement of said spindle to hold said chuck in its retracted position, said rotatable actuating member having a clutch face, a rotatable locking sleeve connected to said other tubular member and having a clutch face shaped to engage said clutch face on said actuating memher to rotate the latter between release and locking positions, means for mounting said locking sleeve for axial movement between a position in which said clutch faces are in spaced relation and a position in which said clutch faces are engaged in response to axial pressure applied to said looking sleeve, and spring means normally urging said locking sleeve axially away from said actuating member.

5. In a spiral screw driver, the combination of a body having an axially extending passageway, a chuck, a spindle received in said passageway and shaped to support said chuck, said spindle having an annular groove formed adjacent said chuck, means for mounting said spindle in said body to have said chuck movable between a retracted position in which the chuck is adjacent the body and an extended position in which the chuck is spaced axially of the body, telescoping tubular members one of which is fixed to said body and the other of which is secured to said chuck to be movable in unison therewith to define an enclosure for said body and spindle for all positions of the spindle between the extended and retracted positions of the chuck, a lock sleeve mounted on said body having a radially extending passageway adapted to be in registry with said annular groove on the spindle when the chuck is in said retracted position, a ball adapted to be received in said radial extending passageway, a lock collar rotatably mounted on said lock sleeve for movement between locking and release positions and having a recess shaped to permit reception of said ball in the release position of the collar and having a surface shaped to force said ball into said annular groove on the spindle in the locking position of said collar to secure said chuck in its retracted position, means for rotating said collar between said positions operable from the exterior of said tubular housings, and a second ball received in a recess on the leeve and engageable with opposite edges of the recess formed in the inner face of the collar to limit angular movement of the collar between its release and locking positions.

JUDSON H. MANSFIELD. EDWIN C. SWANSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 593,157 Furbish Nov. 2, 1897 632,560 Furbish Sept. 5, 1899 902,957 Furbish Nov. 3, 1908 1,022,311 Fegley Apr. 2, 1912 1,401,817 Roberts Dec. 27, 1921 1,821,194 Wilcox Sept. 1, 1931 1,971,289 Abramson Aug. 21, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 68,476 Germany May 9, 1893 

